Force of Fury: Rising Suns and Roaring Guitars — Metal from Japan & South Korea
How Awesome IS Heavy Metal!!!! (BabyMetal and Japan’s new PM: Sanae Takaichi)
When people think of East Asia’s global exports, they often point to anime, K-Pop, or high-tech gadgets. But dig deeper and you’ll find another cultural force that has been building for decades: heavy metal. This week on Force of Fury, we dive into the intertwined histories of Japan and South Korea’s metal movements, their rise from underground scenes to mainstream recognition, and how politics and culture shaped their sound.
Japan: From Loudness to BABYMETAL…and a Metalhead Prime Minister
Japan has been on the metal map since the late 1970s, when pioneering acts like Loudness and X Japan broke through with shredding guitars and theatrical stagecraft. By the 1990s, visual kei blurred the lines between metal, glam, and art, creating a uniquely Japanese contribution to the genre.
In the 2010s, Japan stunned the world again with BABYMETAL—a genre-bending trio that fused idol pop with crushing riffs and double-kick drumming. Their global tours with Metallica, Slayer, and Red Hot Chili Peppers showed that Japanese metal wasn’t just surviving; it was innovating and reshaping the genre itself.
Today, Japan’s relationship with metal has reached an unexpected new level of visibility: Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is an outspoken fan of heavy metal and an amateur drummer. Her rise to political power signals something bigger than fandom—it reflects how deeply metal has threaded itself into Japan’s cultural fabric. And with Takaichi scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump this week, the world will see a leader who can discuss policy by day and blast Judas Priest—or even BABYMETAL—by night.
South Korea: Breaking the Silence
Metal in South Korea followed a tougher path. Strict censorship under military governments during the 1970s and ’80s made loud, rebellious music nearly impossible to perform. Yet underground bands persisted in small clubs, passing around cassettes and fighting for every note of freedom.
The turning point came when international heavyweights began landing in Seoul. Metallica, Iron Maiden, and Megadeth all toured South Korea, filling arenas and inspiring a generation of Korean fans and musicians. Those landmark shows raised the profile of metal nationwide and legitimized it as more than a fringe import.
Out of that momentum rose homegrown bands who helped define the Korean metal identity. Crash brought raw thrash energy, Oathean fused black and death metal with Korean traditional instruments, Burster leaned toward modern metalcore with global appeal, and Seed carried the underground torch with relentless riffs. Together, these bands proved that Korean metal could be as innovative and fierce as any in the world.
Culture Shifts: From Taboo to Mainstream
The embrace of metal in both countries mirrors wider societal changes. Japan’s post-war generations turned from rigid conformity toward bold self-expression, creating space for flamboyant performers and explosive sounds. South Korea, emerging from decades of authoritarian rule, opened its cultural borders in the 1990s and 2000s, allowing heavier genres to flourish alongside the pop juggernaut of K-Pop.
Today, metal festivals in Tokyo and Seoul draw global crowds, while bands from both nations stream worldwide. What was once censored, ignored, or hidden has become part of national identity.
The Future: East Asia’s Heavy Legacy
With a head-banging prime minister, BABYMETAL selling out arenas across continents, and a legacy of legendary tours inspiring new Korean and Japanese artists, metal in East Asia is more than just music. It’s a story of cultural resilience, political symbolism, and the power of distortion to cross boundaries.
This week on Force of Fury, we celebrate that history—because the rising suns of East Asia aren’t just lighting up the world’s economy. They’re blasting it with guitars, double-kicks, and an unbreakable roar.